Connector jack



H. TYZACK CONNECTOR JACK May 15, 1956 Filed Aug. 26, 1954 fi'om thecopper to the zinc through the electrolyte.

United States atet 2,746,023 CONNECTOR JACK Harold Tyzack, SchillerPark, 111., assignor to t'Iarter Parts Company, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Illinois Application August 26, 1954, Serial No. 452,241

Claims. Cl. 339-176) This invention relates to an electrical jack, usedto open or close the circuits throughelectrical contact elements uponinsertion or removal of a plug from the jack. In 'order for such a jackto function efliciently and serve a useful purpose, resistance tocurrent flow through the jack should be kept at a Additionally, the jackshould be so constructed that it does not cause deterioration either ofitself or any mechanism with which it may be associated.

In certain jack installations forces are developed which tend toincrease resistance to current flow. I am referring now to installationsWhere a jack is exposed to electrolytic fluids. For example, a jack maybe exposed to the brine used in salt spray tests. The brine in thesetests will be retained in a metal chamber and this chamber will serve tomount the jack. if the jack and chamber are made of different metals (asthey usually are) there is danger thatthe jack and chamber will becorroded by an electrolytic flow of current via the fluid within thechamber. Certain metallic compounds are formed by electrolytic corrosionof the metal jack and chamber wall. These compounds are poor currentconductors and are, therefore, a source of high resistance, undulyimpairing the electrical efliciency of the jack. Additionally,

electrolytic corrosion will cause the jack or chamber wall todeteriorate.

As one stepin improving the electrical efliciency of a jack it is anobject of the present invention to provide a jackin which neither it norany adjacent metal parts will corrode in the presence of electrolyticfluids.

Realization of this object is based on the knowledge that difierentmetals react difierently in the presence of an electrolyte. Thus, when aplate of zinc and another plate of copper are connected together by aconductor and immersed in an electrolyte a certain current will flow itnow the copper plate is replaced with one of cadmium there will besubstantially no current flow through the electrolyte. V

This realization that different metals react differently in the presenceof an electrolyte is the basis for the well known electromotive seriesin which the common metals are listed in order of their currentproducing powers. Iftwo metals adjacent each other in the series areconnected together in the presence of an electrolyte no substantialcrn'rent flow will be produced. If two metals far elements of the jackand the chamber wall on which it is mounted. The material for the metalelement was so selected that its position in the electromotive serieswas 2,746,023 Patented May 15, 1956 ice between that of the metals usedfor the jack and those used in the chamber wall. The effect of providingthe proper metal element between the jack and chamber wall is to preventthe build up of a large electrolytic current between the jack and thechamber wall. Instead, a small electrolytic current is set up betweenthe jack and metal element and another small electrolytic current is setup between the metal element and chamber wall. These small electrolyticcurrents are not large enough to effect any electrolytic corrosion.Instead, it is found that substantially no electrolytic corrosion occursand substantially no high resistance metallic compounds are formed onthe jack or chamber Wall.

The problem of securing high efliciency through a jack depends for itssolution not only on the ability to prevent formation of high resistancemetallic compounds but also on the ability of the component parts of thejack to make such firm and fixed contact with adjacent parts as toprevent shorting or circuit breakage through the jack.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a jackwherein its component parts will be prevented from shifting or movingout of firm and fixed contact with adjacent parts, thereby preventingshorting or circuit breakage through the jack.

This object is achieved by employing a toothed ele ment in the jack andapplying such pressure on the ele ment that its teeth will be caused tobite into adjacem parts and establish firm electrical contact therewith.

In order to more fully exploit the advantages accruing from arealization of the above-mentioned objects it is another object of theinvention to so design the jack that it can be produced at a minimumexpense.

This object is achieved by eliminating a certain shoulder formingelement which has heretofore been considered essential in theconstruction of jacks.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front view of a chamber wall in which are secured eightjacks constructed according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail there is shown in Fig. l achamber Wall 10 having eight circular openings 12, each of whichreceives a jack constructed according to the present invention.

Each jack includes a sleeve 14 having a circumferential flange orprojection 16 at one of its ends. A metal 'washer member 18 is arrangedon sleeve 14 against flange 16. Member 18 carries a terminal 20 which isadapted to receive a conductor (not shown) for incorporating the jackinto a desired electrical circuit. An insulating washer 22 is arrangedagainst member 18 and a second metal washer member 24 is in turnarranged against washer 22. Member 13 is designed to fit snugly againstsleeve 14 in order to make electrical contact therewith. Member 24, onthe other hand, is not intended to contact sleeve 14. Therefore, thecentral opening in member 24 is made larger than the external dimensionof the sleeve. Member 24 is provided with a spring arm 26 having an endportion 28 in registry with the bore of sleeve 14. Portion 28 ispositioned to make electrical contact with the tip of a plug member (notshown) which is inserted through sleeve 14 from the right hand side ofpanel 10 (as seen in Fig. 2). A terminal 30 is provided on member 24 forconducting current from said member to an electrical circuit (notshown).

Adjacent member 24 there is-positioned an insulating washer 32 having arim portion 34 for spacing member 24 out of contact with sleeve 14. Theright face of 32 and thereby prevent washers 18 and 24 from shiftingaround the periphery of sleeve 14.

In assembly of the jack, members 18, 22, 24, 32 and 38 are placed onsleeve 14 prior to the formation of huge 16. When members 18, 22, 24, 32and 38 are in place the left end of sleeve 14 is flanged out as at 16,and axial pressure is applied to squeeze members 18, 22, 24, and 32between flange 16 and member 38. Aforce is thereby exerted on teeth 36tending to twist them back into the plane of washer 38. Teeth 36 reactagainst this force to maintain a squeezing force on members 18, 22, 24and 32 after the axial pressure is withdrawn. In this way washers 18 and24 are prevented from shifting around sleeve 14 and there is no dangerof circuit breakage through the jack.

To mount the jack on panel the right end of sleeve 14 is threaded as at42 for reception of nut 44. An insulating washer 46 is provided betweennut 44 and the right face of panel 10 in order to prevent flow ofcurrent between said nut and said face. By tightening down nut 44 onthreads 42 teeth 36 will dig into panel 10 so as to prevent rotation ofsleeve 14 within opening 12.

Flow of current through the jack will take more than one path. One pathwill be through terminal 30, washer 24, spring arm 26 and out throughthe tip of the previously mentioned plug to a first connectortherewithin. The plug will have two conductors leading from its baseportion, the first conductor extending through its base to the tip ofthe plug and a second conductor extending from the base of the plug toan external circuit. The base of the plug will abut the free face of nut44 and allow current to flow from the second conductor through nut 44,sleeve 14, washer 18 and out through terminal 20. Current will also flowfrom the second conductor through nut 44, sleeve 14, member 38 and outthrough panel 10 to ground.

It is important to note that any current flowing from sleeve 14 to panel10 must pass through member 38. Under some conditions the atmosphere tothe left of panel 10 (as seen in Fig. 2) will be laden with vapor and 4tion of high resistance metallic compounds. This danger is obviated byso choosing the material out of which member 38 is made that it standsintermediate the metals for the jack and panel in the electromotiveseries. Thus, if panel 10 were to be of stainless steel and the metalparts of the jack were to be of aluminum, member 38 might be made oftin. In this connection, it is not necessary that member 38 beconstructed entirely of the desired metal. All that is necessary is thatthe desired metal be incorporated in the surface of the member. For thisreason, it is possible to make member 38 of other materials and coat orplate the member with the desired metal. Since'the jack and panel may beconstructed of various materials it is not possible to state exactlywhat materials should be used in the surfaces of member 38 except tostate that the material used for member 38 should. be locatedintermediate the materials used for the jack and panel in theelectromotive series. V

Member 38 is considered to differentiate the invention over what hasheretofore been taught in the prior art. Member 38 is consideredadvantageous over prior art constructions, for example, in that itpermits sleeve 14 to be 4 constructed from smaller diameter stock thanhas heretofore been considered possible. Instead of member 38 there hasheretofore been employed an annular shoulder. (See for example thepatent to Carter, No. 1,620,755, wherein an annular shoulder 15 isemployed.) The use of an annular shoulder requires that the sleeve forthe jack be made from stock as large in diameter as the diameter of theshoulder. Additionally considerable machining of the sleeve is necessaryto form the shoulder. With the use of member 38 sleeve 14 may beconstructed from stock no larger than the major diameter of threads 42.r

The use of toothed member 38in the illustrated position is consideredadvantageous over the use of an annular shoulder for the further reasonthat teeth 36 formed on member 38 exert a squeezingiforce on washers 18and 24 so as to prevent them from shifting around sleeve 14. Teeth 36also dig into panel 10 and prevent rotation of sleeve 14 within opening12. Teeth 40 are advantageous in that they dig into the surface ofsleeve'14 and provide a firm" electrical connection between the sleeveand member 38. I

Member 38 is advantageous from the further standpoint that it provides amechanism for preventing electrolytic corrosion of the jack and panel 10as stated previously. 7 p 7 The structural relationships by which theforegoing and other advantages are achieved areset forth in thefollowing claims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. An electrical jack adapted for installation within an opening in apanel, said jack comprising a sleeve having a projection at one of itsends, a series of insulating members and terminal-carrying membersarranged on said sleeve in alignment with said projection, a washerhaving a series of teeth in biting engagement with said sleeve,saidwasher having other teeth extending from its opposite faces forbiting engagement with one of the members and aforementioned panel, andmeans on the opposite end of said sleeve for squeezing said washerbetween said one member and the aforementioned panel, thereby preventingrotation of said sleeve and terminalcarrying members.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein th surfaces of saidwasher, sleeve and panel are metallic and wherein the metal surface ofthe washer is selected from metals lying between the metals of thesleeve and panel in the electromotive series, whereby any tendency for acorrosive electrolytic current to be set up between the sleeve and panelis minimized.

3. An electrical jack adapted for installation Within an opening in ametal panel, said jack comprising a" sleeve having a radially extendingprojection at one ofits ends, a series of insulating members andterminal carrying members arranged on said'sleeve in registry with saidprojection, a washer having a series of teeth in gripping engagementwith said sleeve and having other teeth extending from its oppositefaces for gripping engagement with one of the insulating members and theaforementioned panel respectively, and means on the opposite end of saidsleeve for squeezing said wash er between said one insulating member andthe aforementioned panelfthereby preventing rotation of said sleeve andterminal-carrying members. n V

4. The combination according toclaim 3 wherein the second mentionedteeth extend angularly out of the plane of the washer and actcompressively against the one insulating member, thereby preventingrotation of said members around said sleeve. p

5. An electrical jack adapted for installation within an opening in ametal panel, said j'ack comprising a metal sleeve, a series ofinsulating members and terminal-carrying members arranged on oneehd'ofsaid sleeve, a metallic washer in engagementwith said-sleeve and one ofsaid members, means on the' opposite end of said sleeve for forcing oneface of said washer to frictionally engage the aforementioned panel, themetals for said washer, sleeve and panel being so selected that themetal for the washer is located between the metals for the sleeve andpanel in the electromotive series, whereby any tendency for a corrosiveelectrolytic current to be set up between the sleeve and panel isminimized.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

